The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2003
Applicant:
Inventors:
Edwin Becker, Reken, DE;
Mark Zundel, Duisburg, DE;
Assignee:
Flender Service GmbH, , DE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B01D 5/444 ; H01J 4/900 ; G01N 3/306 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B01D 5/444 ; H01J 4/900 ; G01N 3/306 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring the quality of lubricant that is in a gear mechanism or machine that contains effective materials. A sample of the lubricant or of the vapor that escapes from the lubricant is withdrawn from the gear mechanism or machine. The sample is conveyed to an ion mobility spectrometer, where materials present in the vapor phase above the lubricant are analyzed. The change of the content and of the type of the analyzed materials in the sample is utilized as the actual condition for the aging of the lubricant.